Joe Root dethrones Marnus Labuschagne to regain top spot in ICC Test rankings for batters

Root registered scores of 118* and 46 in the two innings of the Edgbaston Test.

Joe Root | GettyStar England batter Joe Root dethroned Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne to achieve the No. 1 position in the ICC Test rankings for batters.

Root reclaimed the numero uno spot after the first Ashes 2023 Test between England and Australia at Edgbaston, which the visitors won by two wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Root registered scores of 118* and 46 in the two innings of the Edgbaston Test while his nearest rivals Labuschagne (0 and 13), Steve Smith (16 and 6) and Travis Head (50 and 16) failed to make a significant mark in the Ashes opener.

The former England captain is now heading the list with 887 points, followed by Kane Williamson, who gained two places to occupy the second spot with 883 points.

Labuschagne (down two places to third), Travis Head (down one place to fourth) and Babar Azam complete the top-five list. Failure at Edgbaston saw Smith losing four spots and is currently placed at the sixth position with 861 rating points.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja, who earned the Player of the Match award for his knocks of 141 and 65 at Edgbaston, achieved a new career best rating and seventh place overall.

England batter Harry Brook, who scored 32 and 46 in the first Ashes Test, advanced five places to 13th on the latest Test rankings of batters.

Talking about the updated rankings for bowlers, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin retained the pole position followed by James Anderson, Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins.

England duo Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad both moved one place inside the top 10 while Moeen Ali returns to the rankings in 52nd spot.

(With ICC Inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 21 Jun, 2023

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